Haircuts for Square Face Shapes

The trademark of a square face shape is a prominent jaw line, which gives you a strong feature with which to contrast your haircut. The equal width that runs like a straight line down from the sides of your forehead and cheeks to the jaw means your hair will hang with more fullness around the face.

“No matter how you cut a square face shape, you want to focus on a softer feel. It’ll take away from you if you do anything too blunt or harsh,” says Guido, YouBeauty Hair Advisor. A sure bet for square shapes is a side swept bang, which enhances the chiseled bone structure of your face with a gentle yet alluring swoop.

Getty ImagesEmily Deschanel

If you have straight or wavy hair
Since your hair strands fall right against the face, be sure not to end your length with one harsh angle right on the jaw, or else risk overwhelming your features. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear a classic bob shape; adjust by cutting shorter layers in the back that lengthen as they come to the front, so that the hair on either side of your face hangs in a lower graduated bob.

The most flattering length for a square face shape flows down toward the base of your neck, or longer, to enhance the strong outline of your face with the power of length. Round layers cut in a circular pattern around the top portion of your head will add softness and elevation to the crown, which is a great way to transition seamlessly into the fullness at the bottom of the face.

You can still successfully go super short, just as long as you create texture that builds natural volume on top your head. If going down the chopped path, a pixie cut with lots of swirled layers that caress the face at multiple points will give your hair enough substance to balance out the strong bottom line of your jaw.

Getty ImagesDemi Moore

If you have curly hair
Curly hair naturally adds width to the face, so it’s best for square face shapes to keep the bulk away from the jaw line. Instead, go with a mid-length that falls below the chin, and cut in lots of rounded layers that touch the top portion of your face to create a sense of delicacy.